Condenser Microphone Reccomendation

[Yousef]

THANK YOU so much for all your inputs.. Unfortunetly the local store doesn't sell any CAD microphones.. that really sucks for me seeing i cant purchase online..
its down to these two mics:
- AUDIO TECHNICA AT2035
OR
-APEX 415

both on the tascam us 122

thanks but i know its crappy its really the only 2 mics in my price range
please tell me which of the 2 is better

 

[Mr. Antrobus]

The AT is probably a safe choice given that they have excellent quality control and they're likely to be able to use the phantom power of practically any device with phantom power.

I'm not familiar with Apex mics or where they're made. It could be a phenomenal match for your voice or it might not.

Would the shop you're visiting let you try both?

 

[AudioGeekOnline]

Might be bit late chiming in here but I have a couple of AT2020's (not USB) and they are very decent.

Not my first choice in any situation - I use them mainly as travel mics as I dont really like carting my good ones around - but I'm very satisfied considering what I paid for them.

 

[dgatwood]

If the 2035 really is a LDC, then it should be a noticeably better choice for vocals than the 2020. The Apex 415 is a stock Chinese LDC that probably will sound pretty harsh and brittle unless you mod the heck out of it. So if your only choices are the 2020USB, the 2035 and the Apex 415, definitely go with the 2035.

 

[Shadow_7]

I think you'd be better served going eBay or craigslist than your local shop. IMO most of the local shops suck, if only because of their selection (and high prices). I can't even get windscreens or a stereo bar at my local one, and it's near the capital of the 2nd largest state in the nation (USA). Technically they have both of those items, but Fridays visit had stereo bars out of stock, and windscreens for only a very limited type of mics. But not for my mic (Which was prominently shown in their display case / 2nd from the left).

Otherwise get a $10 to $50 electret to use with your laptop. If that works for you, then great. Otherwise know what you do/don't like about that setup and adjust accordingly. Factor in $50 for the mic stand, $100 for the headphones, plus $50 for the XLR cable, and the rest is for the mic / converter / preamp. Plus and minus depending on what you get. And probably double those values for canadian equivalents.

 

[Mr. Antrobus]

If the 2035 really is a LDC, then it should be a noticeably better choice for vocals than the 2020. The Apex 415 is a stock Chinese LDC that probably will sound pretty harsh and brittle unless you mod the heck out of it. So if your only choices are the 2020USB, the 2035 and the Apex 415, definitely go with the 2035.

The AT2035 has a "large diaphragm" "Fixed-charge back plate
permanently polarized condenser"

So its not a neumann copy, but something of audio technica's own design.

I suspect that it's circuitry is surface mount -- as opposed to easily modded.

The at2035 would be a safe reliable choice that probably sounds pretty good.

But probably much harder to mod the heck out of it if that were what you wanted to do.

 

[MascisMan]

On ebay, look for a used Beyer Soundstar Mk II or an MXL V67g. Either should work fine for cheap, but good vocals.

Hey guys, Harvey is a wealth of knowledge and has worked with some big names. I have actually recorded at his studio before with his son, Alex. Great studio and great couple of guys.